The United Kingdom ratified the European Social Charter on 11/07/1962 and has accepted 60 of the Charter’s 72 paragraphs.

It has not signed the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter or the Additional Protocol Providing for a System of Collective Complaints.

The United Kingdom has signed but not yet ratified the Amending Protocol to the European Social Charter and the Revised Charter.
 

The Charter in domestic law

The United Kingdom is a dualist State.

Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by the United Kingdom

Grey = Accepted provisions

Country factsheets

The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.

The United Kingdom factsheet

National report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the United Kingdom

• National Report submitted by the United Kingdom, 3 January 2025
• Comments submitted by the Institute of Employment Rights
• Answers to the additional questions to the NR, 7 October 2025

Ad hoc report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the United Kingdom

• Ad hoc Report on the on the cost-of-living crisis submitted by the United Kingdom, 19 December 2023
  Comments from the University of Essex on the Ad hoc Report on the cost-of -living crisis
  Comments from the Quaker Social Action on the Ad hoc Report on the cost-of -living crisis
  Comments from the Human Rights Watch on the Ad hoc Report on the cost-of -living crisis
  Comments from the Scottish Human Rights Commission on the Ad hoc Report on the cost-of -living crisis

See previous reports in respect of the United Kingdom

Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)

• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2025 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Labour rights)
• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2023 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Labour rights)
• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2021 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
• Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning the United Kingdom (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)

See all conclusions in respect of the United Kingdom (HUDOC)

Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions

ECSR

- First  Report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter by the United Kingdom, 2025

Collective complaints procedure

The United Kingdom has not signed the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter or the Additional Protocol Providing for a System of Collective Complaints.

Previous national reports by the United Kingdom

• 42nd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2021)
  Comments submitted by the University of Essex
  Comments submitted by the Scottish Human Rights Commission - UK Government Response to SHRC Recommendations
• 41st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020).
  Conclusions published in 2023 - XXII-2
• 40th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019)
  Comments by the Scottish Human Rights Commission
  Comments by the Amnesty International 
  Comments by The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland (CYPCS) 
  UK Government Response to Comments from the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
  Conclusions published in 2022 - XXII-1
• 39th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018)
• 38th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017. Conclusions published in 2019 - XXI-4
• 37th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016. Conclusions published in 2018 - XXI-3
• 36th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2012-31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017 - XXI-2
• 35th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2011-31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016 - XXI-1
• 34th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015 - XX-4
  Comments from SHRC on the 34th report
• 33rd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014 - XX-3
• 32nd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013 - XX-2
  Comments from the Working Group on the Social Charter, following the United Kingdom's 32nd report
• 31st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2007-31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012 - XX-1
  31^st report, Reply Art 1§2
• 30th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011 - XIX-4
  Addendum to 30th report
• 29th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010 - XIX-3
• 28th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2007). Conclusions published in 2009 -  XIX-2
• 27th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/06/2004 - 31/05/2006). Conclusions published in 2008 -  XIX-1
• 26th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of the United Kingdom (Reference Period: 01/01/2001 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions XVIII-2